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Las Vegas police offer free wheel locks for certain Hyundai, Kia vehicles – Las Vegas police offer free wheel locks for certain Hyundai, Kia vehicles – Fox 5 Las Vegas
- Las Vegas police offer free wheel locks for certain Hyundai, Kia vehicles – Las Vegas police offer free wheel locks for certain Hyundai, Kia vehicles Fox 5 Las Vegas
- TikTok Challenge Leads to Rise in Hyundai and Kia Thefts, Pennsylvania AG Says NBC 10 Philadelphia
- Las Vegas police offering free wheel locks for Kia, Hyundai vehicles at risk of theft News3LV
- Hyundai, Kia sued by city of San Diego for alleged lack of anti-theft tech KPBS
- TikTok Fad Leads State Farm and Progressive to Declare Certain Kias and Hyundais Uninsurable MotorTrend
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Some auto insurers are refusing to cover some Hyundai and Kia models
CNN
—
Progressive and State Farm, two of America’s largest auto insurers, are refusing to write policies in certain cities for some older Hyundai and Kia models that have been deemed too easy to steal, according to the companies.
Several reports say the companies have stopped offering insurance on these vehicles in cities that include Denver, Colorado and St. Louis, Missouri. The insurance companies did not tell CNN which cities or states were involved.
The Highway Loss Data Institute released insurance claims data last September that confirmed what various social media accounts had been saying: Some 2015 through 2019 Hyundai and Kia models are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of similar age, because many of them lack some of the basic auto theft prevention technology included in most other vehicles in those years, according to the HLDI.
Specifically, these SUVs and cars don’t have electronic immobilizers, which rely on a computer chip in the car and another in the key that communicate to confirm that the key really belongs to that vehicle. Without the right key, an immobilizer should do just that – stop the car from moving.
Immobilizers were standard equipment on 96% of vehicles sold for the 2015-2019 model years, according the HLDI, but only 26% of Hyundais and Kias had them at that time. Vehicles that have push-button start systems, rather than relying on metal keys that must be inserted and turned, have immobilizers, but not all models with turn-key ignitions do.
Stealing these vehicles became a social media trend in 2021, according to HLDI, as car thieves began posting videos of their thefts and joyrides and even videos explaining how to steal the cars. In Wisconsin, where the crimes first became prevalent, theft claims of Hyundais and Kias spiked to more than 30 times 2019 levels in dollar terms.
“State Farm has temporarily stopped writing new business in some states for certain model years and trim levels of Hyundai and Kia vehicles because theft losses for these vehicles have increased dramatically,” the insurer said in a statement provided to CNN. “This is a serious problem impacting our customers and the entire auto insurance industry.”
Progressive is also cutting back on insuring these cars in some markets, spokesman Jeff Sibel said in an emailed statement.
“During the past year we’ve seen theft rates for certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles more than triple and in some markets these vehicles are almost 20 times more likely to be stolen than other vehicles,” he wrote. “Given that we price our policies based on the level of risk they represent, this explosive increase in thefts in many cases makes these vehicles extremely challenging for us to insure. In response, in some geographic areas we have increased our rates and limited our sale of new insurance policies on some of these models.”
Progressive continues to insure those who already have policies with the company, he said. Progressive is also providing them with advice on how to protect their vehicles from theft.
Michael Barry, a spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute, said it was very unusual for auto insurers to simply stop writing new policies on a given make or model of vehicle.
“They generally want to expand their market share depending on where they’re doing business,” he said.
Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering.
Engine immobilizers are now standard on all Kia vehicles, according to a statement by the automaker and the company says it has been developing and testing security software for vehicles not originally equipped with an immobilize. Kia said it has begun notifying owners of the availability of this software, which is being provided at no charge.
Hyundai said it is providing free steering wheel locks to some police departments around the country to give local residents who have easily stolen Hyundai models. Hyundai dealers are also installing free security kits for the vehicles, the company said.
Hyundai partners to build $4B plant in Georgia
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Hyundai Motor Group is making another major investment in the state of Georgia.
The automaker announced this week it is joining forces with fellow South Korean firm SK On, a division of SK Group, to build a new plant northwest of Atlanta in Bartow County that will make electric vehicle batteries for Hyundai and Kia models.
The partners say the project will cost somewhere between $4 and $5 billion, and the plant should be operational in 2025.
SOUTH KOREA SEEKS 3-YEAR GRACE PERIOD ON US EV TAX INCENTIVE LAW
South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai is partnering with battery maker SK Group for a new electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia. (Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images / Getty Images)
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HYMTF | HYUNDAI MOTOR CO. LTD. | 30.21 | -0.04 | -0.13% |
The Korean firms, both of which already employ thousands of Georgians, expect the new project will create another 3,500 jobs.
Hyundai and SK Group’s investments are being driven by both state and federal financial incentives.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has made such economic development projects a major priority of his agenda since taking office in 2019.
Gov. Brian Kemp greets attendees at a campaign event May 17, 2022, in Alpharetta, Ga. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images / Getty Images)
In May, Hyundai announced plans to invest $5.5 billion to build an electric vehicle plant and battery manufacturing facility near Savannah, which Kemp said was the largest economic development project in the state’s history.
COLUMBUS, OHIO, TO SUE KIA AND HYUNDAI OVER SURGE IN VEHICLE THEFTS
Kemp’s office said in a press release that, prior to the latest announcement, the state’s EV-related projects since 2020 totaled roughly $17 billion in investment and more than 22,800 new jobs.
Gov. Brian Kemp walks past a Rivian electric truck after announcing Dec. 16, 2021, in Atlanta that Rivian Automotive will build a $5 billion battery and assembly plant east of Atlanta projected to employ 7,500 workers. (AP / AP Images)
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The Inflation Reduction Act also gives Hyundai incentive to bring more electric vehicle and battery production to the U.S. The law includes a $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles, but only if they are assembled in North America and use batteries with a certain share of minerals mined or processed in North America.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Toyota Isn’t Quite Ready to Boost EV Output
Toyota says it still isn’t going to really boost production of its first mass-market electric vehicle for a few more years, Faraday Future is slashing salaries because the start-up EV maker is running out of cash, and Mercedes-Benz is the latest manufacturer to quit the Russian market. All that and more in The Morning Shift for Wednesday, October 26, 2022.
1st Gear: Toyota Needs Time to Boost bZ4x Production
Toyota is reportedly considering a huge jump in bZ4X production, but not before 2025. It’s said to be part of a broader strategy rethink from the Japanese company.
The automaker is mulling over the decision to increase production of its first mass-market EV by either six or 12 times its current monthly output. Right now that stands at about 1,000 cars per month. But, this isn’t happening overnight. The move would happen in 2025 if components (including semiconductors) can be secured in time. From Reuters:
The car is produced at Toyota Motor Corp’s Motomachi plant near its headquarters on a shared assembly line with gasoline cars and hybrids. Both the current and potential production numbers include those of the Subaru Corp Solterra, which is made on the same platform.
The increase would see Toyota add production at another plant near its headquarters, the Takaoka factory, said the three people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not public.
[…]
The potential ramp-up in production comes as the automaker has faced criticism for not moving faster to embrace all-electric cars and pushing hybrid technology instead. It has launched a review of its EV strategy, Reuters reported this week.
As part of that review – which could result in a more aggressive roadmap for future electric vehicles based on technologies that promise to lower cost and improve performance – it has also suspended development work on some of the 30 new EV models it announced last year and planned to launch by 2030, Reuters reported.
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Toyota recently restarted bZ4X production after a couple of recalls hampered it. At the peak of the planned production increase, Toyota would be producing over 190,000 EVs per years.
2nd Gear: Faraday’s Bleak Future
Faraday Future is reportedly slashing employee salaries by 25 percent starting next month. The move is being done in an effort to save some cash (since it is nearly out) while the company looks for new capital in order to finally launch the FF91.
In an email sent to employees last week, Faraday said the salary cuts expect to last from November 1st through the end of the year. Earlier this month, the company also laid off a few dozen employees. From Bloomberg:
Faraday has seen its cash reserves dwindle rapidly. It recently reported having $39 million in cash as of Sept. 21, down from around $47 million at the end of August.
The company said in the emailed memo, which was viewed by Bloomberg News, that employees will be granted restricted stock units, or RSUs, equivalent to the amount being cut from their salary and which will vest in December. Faraday also offered employees the option of taking a larger salary cut in exchange for more valuable RSUs, though it noted that any RSUs granted will be forfeited if the employee is terminated.
Faraday delayed the launch of its first vehicle until at least 2023. Things are not looking too hot for the Los Angeles-based company right now, though they never really have been.
3rd Gear: Mercedes-Benz Leaves Russia
Add Mercedes-Benz to a growing list of automakers who are pulling out of the Russian market. The company is reportedly selling shares in its industrial and financial service subsidiaries to a Russian investor: car dealer chain Avtodom. From Reuters:
Mercedes Chief Financial Officer Harald Wilhelm, while presenting third-quarter results, said the transaction was not expected to give rise to any further significant effects when it comes to the group’s profitability and financial position beyond those reported in previous quarters.
“Final completion of the transaction is subject to the authority’s approval and the implementation of contractually agreed conditions,” he added.
[…]
“The main priorities in agreeing to the terms of the transaction were to maximize the fulfillment of obligations to clients from Russia both in terms of after-sales services and financial services, as well as preserving jobs of employees at the Russian divisions of the company,” Natalia Koroleva, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Russia, said in a statement.
Mercedes suspended manufacturing in Russia in early March.
Mercedes now joins Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan and Renault in leaving the Russian market. Other companies like Mazda and Kia are also considering moves out of the country.
4th Gear: $1 Billion for Busses
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it is allocating nearly $1 billion for about 400 school districts around the country to buy zero or low-emission school busses.
The funding will lead to the purchase of 2,463 buses. Over 95 percent of those will be electric, and a “very small number” will be powered by compressed natural gas. Another 100 will be propane-fueled buses. From The Detroit News:
School districts to receive funding were chosen through a lottery system and 99% of the projects are in districts serving low-income, rural or Indigenous students. EPA initially planned to allocate $500 million in the first round of funding, but the agency expanded it to nearly $1 billion after receiving “overwhelming demand” from districts.
Millions of children ride the bus to and from school every day, said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “It’s a quintessential part of being a kid in America.”
“But we all know that traditional vehicles that rely on internal combustion engines emit toxic pollutants in the air,” he added. Thanks to this funding, “we are forever transforming school bus fleets across the United States.”
Right now in the U.S., over 90 percent of all school buses run on diesel. The outlet reports that the $1 billion allocation is part of a more than $5 billion plan for zero and low-emission school buses though the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. A further $1 billion will be available next year.
School districts that applied and received funding will put in purchase orders with manufacturers, which will be paid directly by EPA, [Karl] Simon [director of the transportation and climate division of the EPA] said. That must be finished by April.
5th Gear: Hyundai’s EV Expansion Starts in Georgia
Hyundai broke ground Tuesday on its $5.54 billion electric vehicle and battery manufacturing project that will build vehicles for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
The factory — called the Metaplant — is set to build up to six different models and has the capacity to produce as many as 500,000 vehicles per year on its 2,800-acres of land located about 30 miles northwest of Savannah, Georgia. From Automotive News:
“We are making the current investment to get to 300,000 vehicles in phase one, and then 500,000,” Munoz said at a media roundtable after the groundbreaking ceremony.
[…]
Munoz did not say which models the Metaplant will produce, but a new three-row Hyundai EV crossover called the Ioniq 7 is expected to be the first. Munoz also said Hyundai is still examining what models it will export from the new plant.
The project also will see the construction of an adjacent battery plant that will be built through a joint venture with a battery supplier that Hyundai has not identified yet.
A new supply chain also will be established to support the EV factory, Munoz said.
Because of this move, Hyundai should be back in a position to for its buyers to get federal EV tax credits under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
Right now, Hyundai/Kia/Genesis EVs aren’t eligible for the credit because they are imported from Korea, and that doesn’t jive with the criteria laid out in the IRA.
Reverse: Bad!
Neutral: Good!
Did you guys know Jackie Chan sings? Me neither. Awesome.
Apple’s Hottest New Accessory is $330 Physical Lock
One of the newest gadgets hitting Apple Store shelves this week arguably isn’t even a gadget at all, it’s a lock.
Unlike boring old dumbass locks that require incredibly annoying and extremely difficult to operate physical keys, the new Level Lock + smart lock can unlock a door with a simple tap from an iPhone or Apple Watch. It’s also nearly $350.
The Apple exclusive product designed by Level Home is intended to integrate seamlessly with Apple’s Home key feature. Apple Home users can add the digital key to their Apple Wallet which they can then use to gain entry via one of their linked devices. Though past smart locks could work with Apple products, the Level Lock + offers more integrated Home support, letting it utilize unique features like power reserve which lets users unlock their home up to five hours after their device has lost a charge. There’s also a normal keyhole for anyone who really can’t find a charger. According to CNBC, the Level Lock + is the first Home supported key sold in Apple’s store.
Users can set their door to automatically unlock when they approach by using an “Auto-Lock” feature and can also use Siri to unlock the device using their voice. Since Apple stores their key digitally, users can opt to share access to the key with other Home users. That’s useful for friends and family but potentially even more useful for short-term stays at Airbnbs or other rentals. Smart locks, along with smart doorbell systems have gained popularity in recent years, with some estimates forecasting the sector could be worth $8.13 billion by 2030.
“Consumer behavior has evolved to rely on technological enhancements to make secure access more convenient,” Level Home Co-Founder and CEO John Martin said in a statement. “Our habits are more digitally intertwined than ever.”
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Apple’s on a mission to exterminate traditional keys and wallets, whether you’re ready for it or not. A handful of carmakers including BMW and Hyundai already let users unlock their vehicles using a digital Apple Car Key. On the hospitality front, more and more hotels let Apple users add a version of their room keycard to their Apple Wallet.
Outside of locks and keys, Apple Pay stands out as one of the most successful digital payments systems developed so far. eMarketer estimates Apple Pay had roughly 43.9 million users last year, making it the top mobile payment player by a wide margin. This year, Apple began letting residents in Arizona store a digital version of their driver’s license in an Apple Wallet.
Kia and Hyundai vehicles across America are being stolen in seconds
It can take as little as under a minute to steal some Hyundai and Kia models, and it’s happening all across the country.
Why it matters: The widespread problem is attributed to design flaws in the cars, forcing owners to resort — for now — to an old-fashioned steering wheel lock if they want to keep their vehicles safe.
- Hyundai is telling customers that if they want a specialized security kit to protect their vehicle, they’ll need to pay for it.
- The equipment, a “starter interrupt and siren” that “targets the method of entry thieves are using,” will be available starting Oct. 1 for Hyundai vehicles at an undisclosed cost, Hyundai said in a statement.
- Kia says it is not offering a security kit at this time.
How it works: Thieves bust a window and remove part of the steering column’s cover, exposing the ignition. They break the ignition cylinder off and start the vehicle with a flathead screwdriver or USB plug-in.
- They’re “just the perfect size to put in the opening,” Sam Hussein, president of Metrotech Automotive Group auto repair in Dearborn, Mich., tells Axios.
- The method works on 2011-2021 Kias and 2016-2021 Hyundais that use a steel key, not a fob and push-button start. They are targeting cars that lack engine immobilizers — devices that don’t allow the car to start without the correct smart key present, per the automakers.
- Damage can run between $2,000-$3,000, Hussein estimates. And getting the car back may take a while, he says, as some parts are on backorder due to the increased demand.
The intrigue: Officials link some of the thefts to a trend shown in a viral YouTube video in Milwaukee that interviews members of the so-called “Kia Boys.” They demonstrate how they purportedly steal the cars so quickly.
State of play: Some areas say Kias and Hyundais are disappearing in greater numbers this summer, including the Midwest, where a Kia spokesperson tells Axios the problem is most prominent.
- Detroit had 111 Kias stolen in July and 22 in the first nine days of August, per its police department. That’s up from 23 in June and 11 or fewer in all previous months of 2022.
- Charlotte, N.C., police report 156 Kia and Hyundai thefts since June 20, a 346% increase from 35 incidents in the same timeframe last year.
- Per the NICB’s 2021 Hot Wheels report, seven of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in Wisconsin were Kias or Hyundais. But none of those vehicles made the top 10 in the state in the 2020 report.
Meanwhile, the automakers are getting sued across the country, including a two-plaintiff class-action suit in Iowa, a class-action in Wisconsin and two class-action suits centering Ohio theft victims, per court records and law firms.
- Car owners allege a failure to disclose design defects that make the cars easy to steal. Now, despite admitting the problem, the companies still “refuse to fix them” or “compensate consumers,” the Iowa suit reads.
- “Offering [a security kit] and then charging them to install it is not acceptable,” Jeffrey Goldenberg, an attorney in a five-plaintiff suit of mostly Ohio residents filed earlier this month, tells Axios.
What they’re saying: Hyundai Motor Co., the parent company to both the Hyundai and Kia brands, is aware its cars “have been targeted in a coordinated effort on social media,” a statement provided to Axios says.
- Hyundai added that all its vehicles “meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.” Cars being produced now all have the immobilizers that make them tougher to steal.
Worth noting: The “Kia Boys” influence is far from ubiquitous. Officials in Houston, Austin, Salt Lake City and Richmond, Va., tell Axios reporters they aren’t seeing this trend.
Zoom in: Richard Eldredge reported his 2019 Kia Soul stolen from the parking lot of his Midtown Atlanta apartment building on July 7, he tells Axios. The car was discovered the next day, damaged. He’s now waiting on parts due to the supply-chain logjam.
- “Who on Earth would have thought that a dad-ride like a Kia Soul would have been targeted by teenagers?” the Atlanta journalist and senior editor at VOX ATL said.
- “It’s [because it’s] a social media trend and it’s easy to do. Lamborghinis are a little tougher to rip off.”
Axios Local’s Everett Cook edited this story, and Kim Bojórquez, Joe Guillen, Jay Jordan, Joann Muller, Karri Peifer, Asher Price, Katie Peralta Soloff and Thomas Wheatley contributed.
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Hyundai and Kia recall: Some SUVs should be parked outside over fire risk
The South Korean automakers last week recalled thousands of Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride vehicles made between 2020 and 2022, citing a risk of fire while parked or driving due a trailer hitch issue
There are no confirmed fires, crashes or injured related to the issue, and a repair has not yet been identified, the department said in a consumer alert.
“An accessory tow hitch sold through dealerships may allow moisture into the harness module, causing a short circuit. In some cases, an electrical short can cause a vehicle fire while driving or while parked and turned off,” the consumer alert said.
Once a repair is available, affected vehicle owners will be notified to bring their SUVs to a Hyundai or Kia dealer, the consumer alert said. For now, there is an interim repair for Hyundai but not Kia vehicles.
The recalls involved 245,030 Hyundai Palisade and 36,417 Kia Telluride vehicles, the consumer alert added.
Representatives for Hyundai (HYMTF) and Kia in the United States did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
TikTok challenge: Video shows Lakewood man fall victim to social media trend that teaches thieves to steal Hyundai, Kia cars
LAKEWOOD, Calif. (KABC) — Brad Crihfield of Lakewood is trying to wrap his head around what happened outside his home last Monday.
“It’s confusing to think that that can just happen, and it happened so casually that you don’t really turn your head and really notice it,” he said.
The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. His home surveillance camera captured a man forcing the door to his 2012 Hyundai Tucson open and getting inside.
“So he got in within 30 seconds and then took off right because the Ring (video) also picks up my wife walking by the now empty driveway within three minutes after the fact,” Crihfield said.
He does not know why he was targeted, but authorities across the country are investigating a rise in Hyundai and Kia car thefts.
They’re warning car owners of a new TikTok challenge, which encourages people to break into these cars.
The videos allegedly teach them how to jumpstart the car using a USB cable.
“The scary part is that, as far as I can tell, this started from a TikTok challenge, which shows the power of influence that social media can have especially on young folks,” Crihfield said.
In a statement, a Hyundai spokesperson said:
Hyundai Motor America is concerned with the rise in local auto thefts. The safety and well-being of our customers and the community is and will remain our top priority. These vehicles meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and engine immobilizers are standard equipment on all new Hyundai vehicles.
James Bell, a Kia spokesperson, said vehicles that are turned on with a steel key are being targeted.
“Kia America is aware of the rise in vehicle thefts of a subset of trim level vehicles. All 2022 models and trims have an immobilizer applied either at the beginning of the year or as a running change. All Kia vehicles for sale in the U.S. meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards,” Bell said.
Crihfield is not holding out hope that he’ll get his car back anytime soon.
He just hopes no one else falls victim to this alleged TikTok challenge.
“The sad part is explaining to your kids, I have a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old, explaining to them where dad’s car is,” he said.
Also, Crihfield said his car is replaceable and he’s just happy no one was hurt during this incident.
He said he has filed a report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
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New TikTok challenge targets Kia, Hyundai car owners
LOWER MORELAND TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — A warning for Kia and Hyundai car owners: A new TikTok challenge is making you especially vulnerable to car thieves.
The social media videos are being put out by people all over the country, challenging teens and young adults to break into Kias and Hyundais and steal them.
The Lower Moreland Township Police Department said not only are they encouraging theft, they are also encouraging the perpetrators to go on dangerous, reckless joy rides and vandalize the vehicles.
“Anytime that you’re leaving your vehicle, even if it’s just for a couple of seconds, we want to make sure that you’re locking your cars, keeping any valuables out of sight,” said detective Justin Brommer.
Police also said that in many cases, criminals are using USB wires to jump-start vehicles, so if you have a USB wire or a charger in your car, hide it or take it with you.
Also, remember never to leave an unattended vehicle running. Park it in a safe, lighted area and check your surroundings. Police also said you might consider getting a steering wheel lock.
And if you see the videos on TikTok, make sure you report them to slow the spread of this kind of challenge from circulating.
In a statement, Kia said they are aware of the rise in vehicle thefts in our area but that new models and trims have an immobilizer applied. It also said all Kia vehicles for sale in the U.S. meet or exceed federal motor vehicle safety standards.
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